Charles l



(No Model.)

0. L. NASONQ ILLUMINATED SIGN;

Patented Oct. 20, 1896.

WITNESSES:

@MMRS IN l/E N T08 A mm Mr UNITED STATES PATENT FFiCE,

CHARLES L. NASON, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,764, dated October 20, 1896.

Application filed December 14, 1895. Serial No. 572,104. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. NASON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminated Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to illuminated signs, such as are usually employed in cigar-stores and similar places where such articles are kept for sale, and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which comprises a transparent revoluble cylinder located within a stationary casing and in which the necessary signs are cut and which are illuminated by the revoluble cylinder, in which requisite lights are placed; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved illuminated sign with the top of the outer casing removed; Fig. 2, an illuminated vertical section of the outer casing and a revoluble inner cylinder, the operating parts being shown in full lines; and Fig. 3, a side View of the outer casin g, showing the manner of forming the sign or signs, the letters of which are out therein.

In the practice of my invention I provide an oblong box or casing A, which is preferably rectangular in form, and near one end of which is a transverse partition a, by means of which a chamber or compartment B is formed, and within which is placed the motor mechanism by which the inner cylinder D is revolved.

The inner cylinder D comprises two end pieces or heads cl and (P, which are circular in form, and which are mounted on tubes G and II, respectively, on which the cylinder is free to revolve. The outer end of the tube G extends through the corresponding end of the outer casing A, as shown at g, and the outer end of the tube H extends through the partition a, and the inner ends of said tubes are united by a longitudinal plate, bearing, or tube g of any desired form or shape.

The tube G is provided with a hub g, on which is formed a flange or plate 9 which is secured to the end or head d of the cylinder D, and the object of which is to provide an improved bearing for said cylinder, and the tube H, at the opposite end of the cylinder D, is provided with a similar hub 72, on which is mounted a gear-wheel K, which is adapted to operate in connection with a corresponding gear-wheel 7t, suitably supported adjacent thereto on a shaft W, on the outer end of which is mounted a gear-wheel which is adapted to operate by a power-wheel L, which is operated by an electric motor M of any preferred form or construction.

Supported within the revoluble cylinder D are two electric incandescent light-s R and R and passing through the tube G are two electrical conductors O and P, which are suitably insulated and carried through the cylinder D and connected with the motor M, and each of the electric lights R and R are also connected with these conductors, as will be readily understood. These conductors are adapted to carry a sufficient amount of electricity to operate the two lights and the motor, and the operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

The cylinder D or the body portion thereof is preferably composed of spiral strips (1 which are transparent and of different colors, although thesame result may be produced by using an ordinary glass tube and coloring the same by means of spiral strips painted thereon, and formed in the side or sides of the easin g A are the required sign or signs, as shown in Fig. 3, said sign or signs being formed by cutting the letters thereof in the side of the casing, said casin g being p referabl y composed of sheet metal.

In operation the current is turned on through the conductors O and P, and the op eration of the motor M revolves the cylinder D, and the said current at the same time operates the incandescent lights R and R and the letters in the sign are thus illuminated, and by reason of the changing character of the light caused by the diiTerently-colored strips (1 the character of the sign is continually changing, and thus a varied and attractive effect is produced. The varicolored spiral strips, however, are not essential to my invention, and it is evident that signs for other purposes than for use in cigar-stores may be thus made; and my invention is not therefore limited to cigar-signs. Nor is said invention limited to the exact form, construction, and arrangement of parts herein described, and I therefore reserve the right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come Within the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In an illuminated sign, the combination of a stationary outer casing, in the sides of which the letters of the sign are cut, a revoluble cyiinder placed Within said casing, an electrical motor at one end thereof for revolving said cylinder,an electric incandescent light within said cylinder and electrical conductors extending through said casing and through said cylinder, said conductors being in connection with said light, and with said motor, the body portion of said cylinder being transparent, and composed of spiral strips of different-coiored material, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of the subscribing Witnesses, this 13th day of December, 1895.

CHARLES L. NASON.

Vitnesses:

(3. GERsT, S. L. HAW'KSHURST. 

